Why France Truly Should Be On Your Wanderlist

Even though France is one of those destinations that makes its way on to most people’s lists, there are still naysayers who say it’s overrated. While everyone is entitled to their opinion on favorite destinations, France really does have to offer. The capital in itself is a beautiful spot that’s often referred to as the most romantic place in the world, but Paris isn’t all that this intriguing country has to offer. If you’re wondering what makes France so special then here are just a few incredible places and sights this country has to offer.

The Eiffel Tower

It’s an obvious thing to mention, perhaps, but there’s more to this magnificent piece of architecture than simply the way it looks from the outside. As you climb this magnificent work of art, you uncover many brilliant things on the inside of this masterpiece too. There are two restaurants (one for lunch and one for dinner if you can’t get enough of the tower). There’s also a beautiful viewing area at the very top of the tower as well as a scenic patch of grass at the foot of the tower to gaze up at the spectacle that you just ascended. You can’t beat visiting the Eiffel Tower in person. Plus, don’t forget that it lights up at night and twinkles every night on the hour every hour! As if it wasn’t magical enough already, right?

Stroll Through Normandy

You don’t always have to be experiencing some grand city adventure to admire France. Sometimes strolling through the countryside and simply opening your eyes is all it takes to bask in the wonder of this place. Normandy is a great place to do just that. No stop to Normandy is complete without visiting the Normandy Beaches and Cemetery. It’s a humbling and moving experience. In addition to the WW2 history there are also a lot of little beautiful towns. My favorite small town that I explored was Honfleur – a tiny town that sits on the English Channel.

Stunning Mountains

Whether you’re a skier or a simple admirer of natural beauty, you’ll absolutely adore the stunning mountains that France has to offer. You might want to look into high quality chalets in Meribel if you’re intrigued by the possibility of skiing down some of the velvety layers of soft white snow on French slopes and staying in luxurious accommodation whilst you do so. There’s no experience quite like Meribel, but you could venture further and see the French Alps if you want to go the extra mile and see all the glorious slopes that France has to offer. While I’ve not been fortunate enough to explore these mountains, I have it on my list.

Musée D’Orsay

Located in Paris, the Musée D’Orsay is well worth a mention. You might have expected a more famous museum as a suggestion, but that’s exactly why it’s worth mentioning. There’s so much culture hidden in the capital of France, along with every other town and city in this country, so it’s important to really delve deeply into the nooks and crannies of this fascinating place to see what treasures you might find from history, as well as the present day. This museum, in particular, houses some of the best works of art by the most famous painters from the impressionist period in France. It’s well worth a visit. Plus, the architecture is impressive as well. The museum is housed inside an old trail station and the iconic clock is what people always mention when they talk about this building.

The Chateaux of the Loire Valley

With almost 100 chateaux in the Loire Valley alone, you can certainly take your pick of fairy tale destinations. I had the pleasure of visiting Chenonceau and Amboise, both of which had their own unique beauty. Chenonceau (pictured) spans the Cher River and is just unbelievably beautiful. Amboise has the burial place of Leonardo di Vinci and the movie Ever After was filmed on the castle grounds here. You can choose the chateau to best fit your travel plans.

This is just a tiny glimpse of the things to do in France. Don’t forget that it’s more than just Paris (which in itself is filled with amazing art + architecture). This just goes to show how important it is to dig a little deeper because there’s just so much to see in this beautiful country!

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Paige Wunder is currently traveling the world full-time with her husband. When she's not hiking in the mountains or planning a backpacking trip, she's taking a road trip or sampling some delicious craft beer. She loves sharing her adventures both big & small.

11 Comments

I LOVE that you let other people know there is more to France than Paris. I think people get so caught up in the Paris dreams that they forget there are other places to visit. I hope to visit Normandy in the future. Thanks for sharing this post!

I would never say France is overrated. If for nothing else the Eiffel Tower, the mountains and the cute countrysides have oodles to offer in France. Your article just introduced me to some new places too, about these I had no clue about previously!

Ah I love France so much, I don’t have to be convinced for sure 🙂 I have had The Chateaux of the Loire Valley on my bucketlist for a while and every time I see pictures or read a post about it, I just want to go even more. What a beautiful place to visit. It is crazy to think that there is over 100 chateaux in the area.

Sandy N Vyjay

August 8, 2017 at 7:49 pm

France is indeed a must on any travelers list. France is indeed fascinating and there is so much to explore and experience. Art, architecture, culture, cuisine and natural beauty all seem to merge together to form a heady concoction in France. We have not ventured beyond Paris and hope to see the French countryside some day soon.

I love France – the food in itself is worth a visit! I’m happy anywhere in France stuffing my face with pate, and cheese, and crunchy french bread, washed down with delicious wine and a chocolate eclair….heaven!!

I highly recommend Languedoc/Occitanie for a visit. Lots of castles–older, medieval ones–beautiful vineyards, mountains, beach, lots of cultural and outdoorsy activities. Great food, adorable villages. Like Provence but with fewer tourists (and lower prices). Just google Carcassonne for an idea.

Thank you very much! It’s actually an old Canon SLR. I appreciate you asking about following – you can enter your email to the right of (on the sidebar) or below (in the footer) the post to subscribe! I hope that helps!

I Haven’t Been Everywhere, But It’s On My List

Meet the Wanderer

As a lover of all things travel, Paige Wunder is falling in love with the world and its cultures one day at a time. She's a road trip aficionado, an avid hiker, lover of learning + culture and an all around wanderess. Follow along on her adventures - big and small - across this beautiful world.

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